Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday assured the industry representatives of taking all possible measures to tide over the power shortage crisis in the State and hoped that by December 2013, the crisis would be over.
While inaugurating the TiE-ISB Connect Conference here on Thursday, the Chief Minister said that in the short-term, within six to eight months, 2,000 megawatts of power from alternative sources such as wind and solar energy would be generated in the State.
“We have come out with an alternative power policy to harness wind and solar energy. By December 2013, all the southern States including AP will be connected to the northern grid, which has surplus power. This connectivity will meet our energy needs,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister blamed dwindling water inflows in hydel projects and shortage of gas and coal for the shortage of power. “Due to shortage of gas and water, we are having a power shortage of 50 million units per day,” he said.
Addressing a huge gathering of entrepreneurs, Chief Minister said that efforts are on to set up Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in AP. “We already have an IIT and ISB. Now, there is a need for an IIM and we are trying hard for it. We are already getting the National Institutes in Designing and Animal Bio-technology,” Chief Minister said.
Kiran said that the State government has so far received 69 proposals worth Rs.1.32 lakh crores with a potential to provide jobs for 1.5 lakh persons. “Many more proposals are in the pipeline and hopefully all theses projects will fructify,” he assured.
Chief Mentor, The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE), J.A. Chowdhary said that there is a need to help entrepreneurs, who struggle to get initial investment to fund their project, by arranging for soft loans. “All government-run universities should have incubating centres,” he felt.
Dean, Indian Business School (ISB), Dr. Ajit Rangrekar, Special Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Marketing, I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, Principal Secretary, Industry and Commerce, K. Pradeep Chandra and top officials from TiE, ISB were present.
